NJ’s retail Cannabis worker apprenticeship program now accepting apps
Applications are now being accepted for a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program dedicated to recruiting and developing a skilled workforce for the legalized cannabis industry.
Designed to provide hands-on training and education for individuals looking to begin a retail career in the emerging marketplace, the initiative is a collaboration between the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), Rowan University, Rowan College of South Jersey, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 360, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, the Gloucester County Workforce Development Board and cannabis cultivator Loud Wellness Inc. of Glassboro.
The goal of the program is to educate and train workers to help cannabis businesses in New Jersey thrive and to build pathways for employees, particularly those in marginalized communities, in an industry that’s expected to reach more than $100 billion in annual U.S. sales by 2030.
A unique partnership between local labor unions, NJDOL, industry stakeholders and higher education, participants will receive mentoring and training from experienced professionals in the industry along with the opportunity to work alongside other apprentices, gaining valuable experience and building a network of contacts.
Freddy Herrera, cannabis apprenticeship training coordinator, UFCW Local 360, said such programs are “crucial in providing individuals with the necessary skills and experience to succeed in this rapidly growing industry.”
Want a career in cannabis?
During an NJBIZ panel discussion, stakeholders in New Jersey’s emerging cannabis industry reflected on continuing challenges, as well as some of the successes, within the market. Click here to read more (or to watch the panel in its entirety).
“It not only benefits the apprentices but also helps ensure a highly skilled and trained workforce for the future of the cannabis retail sector,” Herrera stated.
Joe Cardona, vice president for university relations, Rowan University, echoed the sentiment, saying individuals “will get the training needed to make New Jersey’s cannabis industry become a model for growth and training.”
Hugh Giordano, director of organizing, UFCW Local 360, believes the initiative will open “new pathways for working class people, in allowing education and a paycheck; while working with an employer who believes in economic and social justice.”
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates will be notified of their acceptance into the program upon successfully completing a skills assessment exam.
